Capitals prospects at WJC

By Seth Keggins

January 2nd, 2004

Washington Capitals draftees Stephen Werner (USA), Alexander Semin (RUS), as well as Andreas Valdix and Patric Blomdahl (SWE) shine on at the World Junior Championships currently talking place in Helsinki, Finland.

Team USA has earned a bye in the quarterfinal rounds today. However up to this point, Caps draftee and local hero Stephen Werner is second on his team with 4 goals and third overall with his 4 points (following only Zach Parise and Patrick Eaves). Werner has been especially successful on the power play, including his recent tally against Team Russia in a convincing 4-1 win. He broke down the right side of a 3 on 2 rush and accepted a cross-ice pass from Patrick Eaves before putting it past Russian goaltender Konstantin Barulin.

Current Capital and Russian representative Alexander Semin started off this tournament in Russia, having been left behind. The Russian coach suspended Alexander Semin and also cut the winger from the team one day before the squad was headed to Finland. Reports were that he was cut because he was not participating in the team practices, as stipulated in his NHL contract. However, the coach decided to add the speedy forward to the lineup after all. Semin has tallied once and has handed out two assists since being promoted to the second line. Russia is playing Finland later today in the quarterfinal round as Alexander Semin has the opportunity to add to his current point total.

Team Sweden has two future Capitals, Andreas Valdix and Patric Blomdahl. Sweden did not qualify for the Championship rounds, after being finished off by Russia, USA, and later Slovakia. However, they will be playing for fourth or fifth place during the next coming days. Patric Blomdahl has scored once for his squad, while Andreas Valdix was responsible for assisting on two goals thus far in the tournament.